Pet furniture

ABSTRACT

A pet furniture apparatus that includes a first set of vertical support elements extending from a base portion to a first level of platforms. The vertical support elements extending from the base portion to the first level of platforms creates at least one compartment and a first floor. The pet furniture apparatus also includes at least one obstacle disposed in the at least one first level compartment to facilitate certain body movements of pets. At least one engagement element for the pet to engage can be incorporated into the pet furniture apparatus to induce interaction of the pet with the pet furniture apparatus. An end table or coffee table having a dual purpose as a pet furniture apparatus. The table includes a plurality of sides wherein each side has at least one access opening disposed therein. Each side of the table can be the top, bottom or side of the table. The table can also include a plurality of platform levels that creates multiple levels of compartments in a horizontal and vertical direction. A table top can be included that can be configured to rest atop any side of the table that is facing upwards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional Applicationhaving U.S. Ser. No. 63/045,326, filed Jun. 29, 2020, which claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The disclosure of which is herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to pet furniture for use by animals toclimb on, be entertained and get exercise. The present disclosure alsorelates to pet furniture that is built into regular furniture, such as acoffee table. Primarily, the pet furniture described herein is used byfeline animals.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous devices and apparatuses have been created over the years toentertain and occupy pets. A lot of these devices and apparatuses arelimited in what they offer for pets to do. These devices and apparatusesdo not include enough elements for a pet to stay engaged for longperiods of time and/or cause them to get adequate exercise and bodymovement. In most instances, pet furniture is a standalone device thatis set out in a home and can be somewhat of an eyesore.

Accordingly, there is a need for pet furniture that can be designed insuch a way and include certain elements that encourage more, and longerengagement of a pet with the pet furniture and facilitates certain bodymovement of the pets using the pet furniture. Furthermore, there is aneed for regular furniture that incorporates pet furniture built thereinfor those looking to save space.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed toward a pet furniture apparatus thatincludes a first set of vertical support elements extending from a baseportion to a first level of platforms. The vertical support elementsextending from the base portion to the first level of platforms createsat least one compartment and a first floor. The pet furniture apparatusalso includes at least one obstacle disposed in the at least one firstlevel compartment to facilitate certain body movements of pets using thepet furniture apparatus. At least one engagement element for the pet toengage can be incorporated into the pet furniture apparatus to induceinteraction of the pet with the pet furniture apparatus.

The present disclosure is also directed to an end table or coffee tablehaving a dual purpose as a pet furniture apparatus. The table includes aplurality of sides wherein each side has at least one access openingdisposed therein. Each side of the table can be the top, bottom or sideof the table. The table can also include a plurality of platform levelsthat creates multiple levels of compartments in a horizontal andvertical direction. A table top can be included that can be configuredto rest atop any side of the table that is facing upwards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pet furniture apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the pet furniture apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the pet furniture apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the pet furniture apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another portion of the pet furnitureapparatus constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another portion of the pet furnitureapparatus constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another portion of the pet furnitureapparatus.

FIGS. 8A-8D are perspective views of another embodiment of a petfurniture apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 9A-9D are perspective views of yet another embodiment of the petfurniture apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pet furnitureapparatus constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11A-11D are perspective views of a further embodiment of the petfurniture apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views of additional embodiments of thepet furniture apparatus constructed in accordance of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a pet furniture apparatus 10 thatelicits longer engagement with the pet furniture apparatus 10 by petsand elicits more beneficial body movement from the pets. The petfurniture apparatus 10 can have many configurations as disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, in one embodiment, the pet furnitureapparatus 10 can include a base portion 12 to support other elements ofthe pet furniture apparatus 10. Vertical support elements 14 can extendfrom the base portion 12 to create various compartments 16 in the petfurniture apparatus 10. The vertical support elements 14 can extend upto a first level of platforms 18. The space between the base portion 12and the first level of platforms 18 creates a first floor 19 in the petfurniture apparatus 10. The pet furniture apparatus 10 can also includesecondary vertical support elements 20 that extend from the first levelof platforms 18 up to a second level of platforms 22. The secondaryvertical support elements 20 create additional compartments 24 betweenthe first level of platforms 18 and the second level of platforms 22.The space between the first level of platforms 18 and the second levelof platforms 22 creates a second floor 25 in the pet furniture apparatus10.

The pet furniture apparatus 10 can also include tertiary verticalsupport elements 26 that extend from the second level of platforms 22 upto a third level of platforms 28. The tertiary vertical support elements26 create additional compartments 30 between the second level ofplatforms 22 and the third level of platforms 28. The space between thesecond level of platforms 22 and the third level of platforms 28 createsa third floor 32 in the pet furniture apparatus 10. In a furtherembodiment of the present disclosure, the pet furniture apparatus 10 canalso include a fourth set of vertical support elements 34 that extendfrom the third level of platforms 28 up to a fourth level of platforms36. The fourth set of vertical support elements 34 create additionalcompartments 38 between the third level of platforms 28 and the fourthlevel of platforms 36. The space between the third level of platforms 28and the fourth level of platforms 36 creates a fourth floor 40 in thepet furniture apparatus 10. It should be understood and appreciated thatthe pet furniture apparatus 10 can have additional levels of platforms,vertical support elements and floors as desired. The base portion 10,platforms 18, 22, 28 and 36, and vertical support elements 14, 20, 26and 34 can be constructed of any materials desired such that thestructure maintains its shape and can support the pets that use it.Examples of materials include, but are not limited to, wood, metal, andpolymer based materials, such as plastic.

Multiple compartments 16 can be created by the vertical support elements14 between the second level of platforms 22 and the first level ofplatform 18 and the base portion 12. Horizontal passages 42 can becreated between the compartments 16, 24 and 30 on each separate floorand vertical passages 44 can be made between adjacent floors. In anotherembodiment, the pet furniture apparatus 10 can include multi-floorpassages 46 from one floor to another floor that is not disposedimmediately adjacent. Some of the compartments 16, 24 and 30 will bepositioned on an outer edge 48 of a given floor 19, 25 and 32 of the petfurniture apparatus 10. Some of the outer edge compartments 50 can havean open side 52 for allowing a pet access to the pet furniture apparatus10 at different levels. In one embodiment, multiple sides of acompartment 16, 24 and 30 can be open. The open sides 52 of the outeredge compartments 50 can have flexible or cloth-like material 54 thatcover the openings 52 or possibly a hinged or sliding cover plate 56. Insome instances, the flexible or cloth-like material 54 can just hangfrom the top 58 of the opening 52 or hang from the top 58 of the opening52 with multiple slits 60 in the flexible or cloth-like material 54. Inanother instance, the flexible or cloth-like material 54 can coversubstantially all of the opening 52 and have a slit 62 or slot disposedtherein to allow a pet to have to put forth some effort to get insidethe pet furniture apparatus 10.

The compartments 16, 24 and 30 and passages—vertical 44 and horizontal42—can include obstacles 62 that force the pet to take certain paths anddistort their bodies in certain ways to navigate therethrough. Theobstacles 62 are positioned specifically to force a pet to move theirbodies in such a way that is good for them. Some obstacles 62 arepositioned so that a pet has to bend to the left, bend to the right,duck under something, or go over something as the pet passes through thecompartment 16, 24 and 30 or passageway 42 and/or 44. In one embodiment,a vertical passageway 44 can extend multiple floors up which forces thepet to stretch and reach to be able to get to the compartment at the topof the extended vertical passageway 44. Examples of obstacles 62include, but are not limited to, pieces of rope or cords, pieces ofwood, and the like.

The pet furniture apparatus 10 can also include pet engagement elements64 disposed on and in the pet furniture apparatus 10. In certainembodiments, the engagement elements 64 can be textured or fibrousdevices that the pets can interact with. For example, the engagementelements 64 can be pieces of corrugated materials, cardboard, ropes orcords, carpet and the like. These engagement elements 64 can be disposedinside various parts of the pet furniture apparatus 10 and/or attachedto outside portions of the pet furniture apparatus 10. In oneembodiment, an engagement element 64 can extend from a higher levelfloor to a lower level floor (or base portion) to permit the pet toclimb from the lower level floor to the higher level floor. In thisembodiment, the higher level floor would be disposed above the lowerlevel floor a distance greater than the height of the pet so the pet hasto climb the engagement element 64.

In one example, the engagement element 64 is corrugated material orcarpet attached to a series of vertical support elements 14, 20, 26 or34. In another example, the engagement element 64 is a rope or cord thatis suspended from a rod 66 disposed across an open shaft 68 from anupper level to a lower level. The pets can climb the rope or cord to getto the upper level. The rope or cord can also just hang down from theupper level adjacent to the series of vertical support elements 14, 20,26 or 34. In another embodiment, the vertical support elements 14, 20,26 or 34 can include an engagement material disposed entirely around sothat a pet can have a 360 degree part of the pet furniture apparatus 10to interact with.

The pet furniture apparatus 10 can also include access points 70 thatpermit a user to place a treat or desirable object of the pet in certainlocations to force the pet to traverse the obstacles and navigatethrough the pet furniture apparatus 10 to get to the place where thetreats or desirable objects are placed.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in more detailin FIGS. 8A-9D, a pet furniture apparatus 78 can be built into a pieceof home furniture, such as a coffee table, an end table, a couch, achair, and a bed frame. It should be understood and appreciated thatthis list of home furniture is not an exhaustive list and any piece ofhome furniture is capable of being used to hide and support the petfurniture apparatus 78 as described herein. In one example, the piece ofhome furniture is a coffee or end table 80 that has a plurality of sides82 that are ultimately supported by the floor of the house. Theplurality of sides 82 can have at least one access opening 84 to allow apet access to compartments 86 of the pet furniture apparatus asdescribed herein. In another example, the plurality of sides 82 caninclude multiple access openings 84 to allow the pet multiple ingressand egress points to the pet furniture apparatus 78 inside the table.

The pet apparatus furniture 78 that is used as home furniture caninclude all of the things described herein for the pet apparatusfurniture 10. For example, the pet apparatus furniture 78 can havehorizontal and vertical passageways 442 and 44, obstacles 62, petengagement elements 64, etc. As shown in FIGS. 12A-12B, the petfurniture apparatus 78 can also include a table top 88 that can beplaced on any side of the pet furniture apparatus 78, which would makethat side 82 the top. In one embodiment, the table top 88 can be atransparent material, such as glass, so that a pet owner can look downinto the pet furniture apparatus 78 and see their pet interacting withthe pet furniture apparatus. The ability to put the pet furnitureapparatus 78 on any one of its sides 82 permits the owner of the petfurniture apparatus 78 to change and control the look of the petfurniture apparatus 78.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the pet furnitureapparatus 78 can include 6 sides 82 and each side 82 of the petfurniture apparatus 78 can include at least one access opening 84. Inanother embodiment, at least 5 sides of the pet furniture apparatus 78includes two or more access openings 84 for the pet to gain access tothe pet furniture apparatus 78. In a further embodiment, at least threesides 82 of the pet furniture apparatus 78 includes at least threeaccess openings 84. In an even further embodiment of the presentdisclosure, at least three sides 82 of the pet furniture apparatus 78includes at least four access openings 84. In certain embodiments, theaccess openings 84 can be partly defined by the floor the pet furnitureapparatus 78 is placed on. All the access openings 84 on the differentsides 82 allows access by the pets from all sides 82 and permits the petowner to be able to see their pet from all sides 82.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIGS. 10-11D,one pet furniture apparatus 78, which include one or more levels ofplatforms and one or more vertical support elements, or compartments canbe combined with a second pet furniture apparatus 79 to create acombined pet furniture apparatus 90. The first pet furniture apparatus78 and the second pet furniture apparatus 79 can each include at leastone securing opening 92 and 94 in alignment that can be used to securethe first 78 and second pet furniture apparatus 79 together to createthe combined pet furniture apparatus 90. A securing device can be usedto extend through the openings 92 and 94 to secure the first and secondpet furniture apparatus together. The securing device can be any deviceknown in the art for extending through openings to secure thingstogether. Examples include, but are not limited to screws, nuts andbolts, threaded bolts, etc. In one embodiment, the openings 92 and 94can be threaded. In yet another embodiment, the first pet apparatus 78can include multiple openings 92 and the second pet apparatus 79 caninclude multiple openings 94 in general alignment with the openings 92of the first pet furniture apparatus 78.

From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure iswell adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantagesmentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. Whilepresently preferred embodiments have been described herein, it will beunderstood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished withinthe spirit of the disclosure and claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pet furniture apparatus, the apparatuscomprising: a first set of vertical support elements extending from abase portion to a first level of platforms to create at least onecompartment and a first floor; at least one obstacle disposed in the atleast one first level compartment to facilitate certain body movementsof pets using the pet furniture apparatus; and at least one engagementelement for the pet to engage to induce interaction with the petfurniture apparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the petfurniture apparatus includes multiple compartments on the first floor.3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pet furniture apparatus includesa second set of vertical support elements extending from the first levelof platforms to a second level of platforms to create at least onesecond level compartment and a second floor and a third set of verticalsupport elements extending from the second level of platforms to a thirdlevel of platforms to create at least one third level compartment and athird floor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pet furnitureapparatus further includes a fourth set of vertical support elementsextending from the third level of platforms to create at least onefourth level compartment and a fourth floor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein the pet furniture apparatus includes vertical passages betweenadjacent floors and horizontal passages between adjacent compartments onthe same floor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pet furnitureapparatus can have a vertical passageway that extends from a first floorto a third floor or from a second floor to a fourth floor.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein the pet furniture apparatus can have avertical passageway that extends from a first floor to a fourth floor.8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pet furniture apparatus can havean access opening to allow a pet access to the pet furniture apparatus.9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the access opening can have a layerof material disposed over the access opening wherein the layer ofmaterial has a slit disposed therein to permit a pet access to the petfurniture apparatus.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the verticaland horizontal passageways include obstacles to prevent certain petmovements and encourage certain pet movements as a pet maneuvers throughthe vertical and horizontal passageways.
 11. An end table or coffeetable having a dual purpose as a pet furniture apparatus, the tablecomprising: a plurality of sides wherein each side has at least oneaccess opening disposed therein and each side can be the top, bottom orside of the table; a plurality of platform levels that creates multiplelevels of compartments in a horizontal and vertical direction; and atable top that can be configured to rest atop any side of the table thatis facing upwards.
 12. The table of claim 11 further comprising verticaland horizontal passageways disposed between the compartments.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein the table includes six sides.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein at least five of the sides of the tableeach includes at least two access openings.
 15. The apparatus of claim13 wherein at least three sides of the table each include at least threeaccess openings.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least threesides of the table each include at least four access openings.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein the table can have at least one secureopening disposed in one of the sides that is in general alignment withat least one secure opening disposed in a second table wherein the twosecure openings are used to secure the table to the second table tocreate a combined pet furniture apparatus that can be used as a table.18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the table top is transparent so apet owner can look down into the table and locate their pet inside.